Starting the voyage
When my wife and I finally went to Antarctica in November on the Ocean Nova, a Quark ship that carried us and 62 other passengers, it was the highlight of the year, if not a ... Full Journal »
Costa Rica Lodges / Hotels
- Arenal
- Arenal Kioro Suites and Spa : Arenal Kioro is located 10 kilometers Northwest of La Fortuna in San Carlos, in front of the majestic Arenal Volcano. It is a family run company who believes in making friends more than guests. Their hope is every person using the hotel will feel this characteristic hospitality and the sincere treatment from personnel on their Costa Rica trip.
- Arenal Observatory Lodge : A Costa Rican volcano lodge set high on a ridge a mere 1.7 miles from Arenal Volcano, Arenal Observatory Lodge offers the adventurous traveler front-row seating for one of the world's most thrilling fireworks displays - a volcanic eruption. And no Costa Rica lodge is so apt to view the roar and fume of the awe-inspiring Arenal Volcano as the Arenal Observatory Lodge!
- Hotel Arenal Manoa : Arenal Manoa is a beautiful place to rest, relax and enjoy the marvelous view of Arenal Volcano. Surrounded by gardens, pastures and animals, the rooms have been designed so that each one offers you a panoramic view of the volcano.
- Hotel Arenal Paraiso : Located in the northern region of Costa Rica and only two and a half hours from San José, the Arenal Paraíso Hotel is your best option to enjoy the most impressive view of the Arenal Volcano in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere on your Costa Rica trip.
- Hotel Royal Corin : The Royal Corin Resort & Loto Spa has 54 rooms with an elegant design, quiet atmosphere in harmony with natural wealth of the area of the majestic Arenal volcano. Each room has fantastic view of the volcano mainly because of the excellent architectural design of this five story hotel. It is the perfect place to begin your Costa Rica tour.
- Lomas del Volcan : Lomas del Volcán, within the property of a 150 hectare farm, it´s hotel situated on a mountainside of one of the most active volcanos of Costa Rica… The hotel sits at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano.
- Rancho Margot : Nestled on the shores of Lake Arenal, the Rancho Margot welcomes guests to the organic sustainable ranch and retreat center. Guests will enjoy a wide variety of activities on the lush grounds of the ranch, as well as deluxe bungalow accommodations. Immerse yourself in the best of Costa Rica at Rancho Margot.
- Chirripo National Park
- Pelicano Mountain Lodge : Sense the pureness of nature surrounded by the sounds of the Chirripo Pacifico River at the Pelicano Mountain Lodge. Located near the beautiful Chirripo National Park, stay in your private cabana at the Pelicano Mountain Lodge which commands an enviable location with impressive views of the Talamanca Mountain Range.
- Corcovado
- Sirena Ranger Station : Sirena Ranger Station is the only ranger station in Corcovado National Park offering overnight lodging in dorm style accommodation. Sirena Ranger Station is located within the Corcovado Basin and boasts an unparalleled abundance of wildlife of all types.
- Dominical
- Hotel Cristal Ballena : Hotel Resort & Spa Cristal Ballena is situated in a grand scale of 12 hectare (30-acre) private tropical garden, embedded on a hill between the Pacific Ocean and rainforest-covered mountains. This unique position allows breathtaking ocean views while a cooling breeze is coming from the mountains. The daily sunsets are occasions in your life you will never forget from your Costa Rica trip.
- Hotel Villas Rio Mar : Set on the banks of the Barú river, located 800 mtrs from the beach and surrounded by impressive tropical forests, the jungle resort Villas Rio Mar awaits you with traditional friendly hospitality and is a great place to begin your Costa Rica tour.
- Manuel Antonio
- Arenas del Mar : An extraordinary beachfront resort situated in the beaches of Manuel Antonio. This incomparable Costa Rican hotel was designed and built with an ambitious combination of deluxe accommodations coupled with the highest level of certified sustainability.
- Hotel California : Hotel California is the best value ocean view hotel in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica. Set on a mountain and surrounded by jungle, you will enjoy spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean on your Costa Rica tour. You won't find other Quepos lodging anywhere near the Manuel Antonio National Park or hotels with similar quality accommodations and service at such reasonable rates.
- Hotel Paraiso Carlisa : The Hotel Paraíso Carlisa is a luxury mountain resort surrounded by a primary and secondary forest, dedicated to the conservation of nature. The Hotel is a private reserve that enables the visitor to experience in a very unique manner the wildlife of Costa Rica's rainforest. The reserve has a 250-acrBar in the pool (Wet Bar): enjoy our refreshing natural juices in the salt water pool. Snack Ba
- Hotel Villa Bosque : Villa Bosque Hotel is an exclusive small hotel next to Manuel Antonio Beach and National Park. Here you can take some time to yourself and relax in this amazing combination of beach and tropical rainforest. It’s the ideal starting point to visit some surrounding locations as the National Park, nearby rafting rivers and canopy tours, surfing or horseback riding.
- Parador Resort and Spa : Parador Resort & Spa, is located on Punta Quepos in the most pristine and tranquil area of Manuel Antonio, yet within minutes from the World Famous Manuel Antonio National Park, the small sport fishing town of Quepos, and the local airport. It is the perfect place to begin your Costa Rica trip.
- Playa Espadilla : Hotel Playa Espadilla is located just 150 mts from Manuel Antonio Beach front, and 200 mts away from the main entrance of Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Si Como No : Manuel Antonio is considered the most beautiful coastline in Costa Rica!. And no wonder. It's as if Mother Nature herself sculpted the picturesque beaches. And the rainforest? Like no other on the planet! Imagine a series of natural terraces filled with rare flora and fauna all overlooking the Pacific. It's all here!
- Monteverde Cloud Forest
- El Establo Mountain Hotel : Quaker friendship awaits you in this hotel, set in a private 150 acre farm (50% protected primary forest) adjacent to the Monteverde Reserve.
- Heliconia Hotel : Hotel Heliconia is located in Monteverde, a privileged location, that places it near two of the most beautiful protected tropical forests in Costa Rica, the well known Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and the Santa Elena Rain Forest Reserve. It is the perfect place to begin exploring on a Costa Rica tour.
- Hotel Fonda Vela : The Hotel Fonda Vela is located in beautiful Monteverde, famous for its rare and gorgeous cloud forest and friendly community. The climate is refreshing, often referred to as "eternal spring". The views of the Gulf of Nicoya from the hotel's 1,400 meter (4,200 foot) elevation are spectacular.
- Hotel Montana Monteverde : The Hotel Montana Monteverde is situated in an area called Cerro Plano which is located between the small town of Santa Elena and Monteverde and has several attractions like the Butterfly Garden, Ecological Sanctuary and Hidden Valley Trail.
- Monteverde Lodge : At 4,600 feet (1400 meters) above sea level, located next to the Cloud Forest, the Monteverde Lodge offers luxurious and comfortable accommodation on your Costa Rica tour. The Lodge has quiet, lush gardens to relax in after a day of discovering the area or just to enjoy your morning and the views, sipping some tasty "Cafe Monteverde".
- Osa Peninsula - Golfo Dulce
- Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge : A prime location on the edge of Corcovado National Park, luxury first-class service and food, exciting activities - Spanish colonial-style Bungalows are spread around a garden for maximum privacy, this unique lodge offers accommodations constructed with the highest concern for conservation and is a great place to start your Costa Rica tour.
- La Leona Ecolodge : La Leona Ecolodge, is a vacation spot that offers a unique experience for nature lovers and follows the philosophy of ecotourism and is a wonderful place to stay on a Costa Rica tour.
- Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge : A unique adventure travel destination: lush, green vegetation as far as the eye can see, with leaves as big as elephant ears. Jade colored water. Toucans, monkeys, iguanas, dolphins, majestic blue butterflies – all are here at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Golfo Dulce and can be seen on a Costa Rica trip.
- Tiskita Jungle Lodge : Tiskita Jungle Lodge and biological reserve is one of the original eolodges in Costa Rica having been around for almost 20 years. This family-run business, owned and managed by Peter Aspinall and his wife Lisbeth, started in 1978. Peter built himself a home while reforesting large sections of cleared land with native tree species and fruit trees he collected from around the world.
- Pacuare River
- Pacuare Lodge : Tucked away deep in the heart of Costa Rica’s most pristine rainforest environment, on the banks of the Pacuare River, lies the Pacuare Jungle Lodge. Surrounded by nature in its purest and most primitive state, here you will experience that most coveted of travelers’ rewards, an opportunity to savor the spirit of a place.
- Rios Tropicales Lodge : The Rios Tropicales Lodge, located along the Pacuare River, offers a haven for relaxation and immersion in tropical sights and sounds. The clean energy, sustainable lodge offers you a variety of accommodation and activity options.
- Puerto Viejo
- Cariblue Hotel : Cariblue Hotel provides the finest lodging among Puerto Viejo. All lodge bungalows are nestled in a lush tropical garden surrounded by uncontaminated beaches and wild tropical jungle.
- Namuwoki Lodge : Namuwokoi, or "the jaguar's house", is nestled into the jungle on the tropical beach of Costa Rica's Caribbean. Eight jungle bungalows immersed into the natural surroundings create a harmonious combination of comfort and nature.
- Shawandha Lodge : Costa Rica as a whole offers an amazing diversity of landscapes, flora and fauna. However, the southern Caribbean coast is simply unique! Its wilderness plays with ecological options and adventure activities, and is a perfect place to explore on a Costa Rica trip.
- Rafiki Safari Lodge : Rafiki is a luxury wilderness tent camp and conservation project focused on adventurous sustainable tourism nestled on the edge of the Savegre River. Guests will enjoy numerous activities from the lodge, as well as the unique luxury safari tents with spectacular views of the pristine mountains.
- Reserva Pacuare : Adventure Travel to Reserva Pacuare, Costa Rica. Experiences with the Leatherback Turtles and a Rainforest Whitewater Rafting Adventure!
- San Jose
- Casa Conde : Casa Conde, Apartotel & Suites, located just 5 minutes from San José and 30 minutes from the Juan Santamaría International Airport, offers the most sophisticated and modern facilities to a very demanding Local and International Corporate Market.
- Finca Rosa Blanca : Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation and Inn is an organic shade grown coffee plantation with a world class 13 room Inn located in the middle of lush colorful gardens framed by awe inspiring views of the Central Valley below. It is a magnificent place to begin your Costa Rica tour.
- Grano de Oro : Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colon, San Jose’s main thoroughfare, Hotel Grano de Oro is a true oasis, a sanctuary in the heart of the city. Converted from a Tropical Victorian mansion, the 40-room hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home and is a great place to relax on a Costa Rica trip.
- Hotel Bougainvillea : Set among 10 acres of lush gardens, the unique and comfortable Hotel Bougainvillea is a place where guests can truly experience the world famous beauty of Costa Rica, just 15 minutes from San José downtown and 20 minutes from the airport.
- Hotel El Rodeo : El Rodeo offers guests Costa Rican charming warmth, plus exceptional service in a natural and peaceful environment. Located within minutes from both the San Jose airport or downtown, enjoy the amenities of the proximity but relax in the serenity of this beautiful country inn.
- Le Bergerac Hotel : This very popular, charming and intimate luxury hotel, with its wonderful tropical gardens, has 26 unique and attractive rooms many with their own private garden patios. Located in Los Yoses, the old embassy district of San Jose, this beautiful hotel is only minutes from the attractions of downtown and is an excellent base for exploring the Central Valley on a Costa Rica tour.
- Xandari Resort and Spa : Xandari Resort & Spa is a tropical paradise of 22 individually designed villas nestled on a 40 acre plantation overlooking the Central Valley of Costa Rica, and only 20 minutes from the San Jose International Airport. At an elevation of 3900 feet (1200 meters), Xandari enjoys a near–perfect temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit all year.
- Sarapiqui
- Hotel La Quinta Sarapiqui : La Quinta Country Inn exemplifies the resilience of the tropical rainforest. Since 1993, the site of the inn was a farm, cleared of most of its trees and natural vegetation. Careful planning and giving nature a chance has resulted in a remarkable recovery.
- Selva Verde Lodge : Selva Verde’s eco lodge is a haven for nature enthusiasts, hikers, bird and wildlife watchers, scientists and students, as well as adventure seekers. Nestled in the North-Central Lowlands of Costa Rica, Selva Verde’s private reserve protects over 500 acres of primary and secondary rainforest.
- Savegre Valley
- Savegre Mountain Hotel : The Savegre Mountain Hotel, also known as Cabinas Chacón, is located in San Gerardo de Dota, a small community in the Talamanca mountains in the midst of a precious ecosystem... Here you will find a deep cloud forest filled with massive oaks and other native species.
- Selva Bananito : This Costa Rica Ecolodge is to be found at the upper Bananito River watershed in the beautiful province of Limon, Costa Rica. It will take about 3 ½ hours driving time from the capital city San Jose to reach the pick up point “Salon Delia” in the town of Bananito.
- Selva Verde : Adventure Travel to Selva Verde Lodge on a Costa Rica tour. Experience Whitewater Rafting, Rainforest hiking trails, and bird watchng while staying at Selva Verde Lodge!
- Talari Mountain Lodge : Talari Mountain Lodge is the perfect retreat for the adventure tourist, nature lover and those seeking a peaceful sanctuary on a Costa Rica tour. The land plays host to over 222 species of birds. It is nestled within the beautiful El General Valley next to the mighty Chirripo River.
- Tortuguero
- Laguna Lodge : Laguna Lodge is located on a narrow strip of land, six hundred feet wide. Its spacious gardens enjoy the Caribbean Sea on one side and Tortuguero Lagoon on the other. The lodge has fifteen acres, full of trees and exotic plants, while the gardens shelter a great number of birds.
- Manatus Hotel : Manatus Hotel offers the finest accommodations surrounded by the natural beauty of Tortuguero. You deserve to elevate your Costa Rica vacation experience to the next level.
- Pacuare Nature Reserve : The beautiful and well constructed lodge overlooks the beach and a freshwater lagoon which opens on to the main Tortuguero canal.
- Reserva Pacuare : Stay onsite at the Reserva Pacuare, established in 1989 by the Endangered Wildlife Trust protecting the Leatherback Turtles which nest along this beach. Rich in wildlife, guests are immersed into the beauty of the lowland tropical rain forest while assisting biologists in the preservation of this critically endangered species.
- Turtle Beach Lodge Hotel : Turtle Beach Lodge, located 5 miles north of the town of Tortuguero, is a secluded resort that spans 175 acres. Surrounded by lush jungles, a meandering private canal and a half mile of private beach on the Caribbean Sea, it is the ultimate in seclusion, tropical beauty and exotic adventure on a Costa Rica tour.
- Turrialba
- Guayabo Lodge : Overlooking the Turrialba Valley, with the magnificent Turrialba Volcano in the background, you will find Guayabo Lodge. This beautiful, light and airy lodge is located 1500 meters above sea level in a lush cloud forest environment. To reach the lodge, which is surrounded by the pastures of a dairy farm, you drive down a pristine private lane.














